Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-03
THE MARVELLOUS CRANELET.
Story of Comedians Truthful Son
and Mr.. Larry Barrett.
Z Fed in OAica0o Meow.

+ Field ia Chicago Ns,oS.
Mr., Lawrence Barrett, who is an
authority whom no one can doubt, tells an
entirely new story about Master stuart
Crane, the precoclOus 5-y ar-old son of
Mr.. William FL. Crane, the popular come
dian. "My summer home is at Cohasset,"
says Mr.. Barrett, land it is there, TOO,
that Mr.. and Mrs. Crane, with their in
teresting child, seek rest and refreshment
during the summer months. Our cottages
are not more than stones throw apart,
and the closet intimacy subsists between
our two lamilies-an intimacy which,
pray heaven, may notbe interrupted save
by the pale hand of death. For little
stuart Crane, upon whom his parents
have lavished the wealth OF their generous
affections, | conceived a most cordial
attachment last summer, the amiability OF
the child, no less than his marvellous
precocity. attracted me to HIM. and ere
long L tound-not to my dismay-that the
tendrils of my heart had stretched out, so
to speak, and had twined themselves
about the little fellow. Every morning it
was his custom 60 come over to my cot
tage, and | took pleasure in sitting with
him on the front porch reciting passages
from George Boxers plays and telling him
stories suited to his childish tastes. |
formed, as say, sincere attachment for
the boy, and it pleased me to discover in
his character sGurdy moral foundation,
which he seemed to inherit from the ma
ternal side of his family. Well, it was
early last July, as | remember, that his
uncle, Squire EleaZer Crane, OF Bangor,
Me-, came down TO COhasset to visit the
Crane family. Among other gifts Tor the
little boy he brought a chest of carpenter
tools-iust such a present as every boy
delights in. For the next week young
- bNrn tod ~
mering and hacking away at
everything he could lay hand
to, and AT last one morning saw him out
In his fathers back orchard chopping
wildly at one of the cherry tress-a
splendid specimen of the OX-heart variety,
which Mr.. Crane especially valued be-
cause he had once dislOcated his
wrist while attempting to climb it the
tree) for a wager. Well nigh overcome
with horror, | called to the child to de-
sist, and when he came to me and asked
me what harm there could be in his prac-
ticing on the trees with his Ratchet, |
represented that tue wantOn destruction of
any OF Gods beautiful creatures was verv,
very wicked. While we were still talking
upon this subject | saw Mr.. Crane come
out OF his cottage and saunter thrOuA b
the orchard in our direction. Presently
his eyes fell upon the lacerated trunk of
rude scars which the child's Ratchet had
made eXuded sap and gum, as II, in sooth,
the proud tree were shedding tears over
its irremediable misfortune. Then saw
that MIR. Crane was very indignant. He
came hot foot toward us, with flame upon
mis- cheeks and anger in his eyes.
"'Young man. said Mr.. Crane, ad-
dressing the child, who still retained in
his grasp the instrument o. torture with
which he had wTOugh havoc in the orcn-
ard, young man, who cut my cherry
treeP
"Father,' said the child, slipping the
Ratchet under his BIB, and looking calmly
up into his parents stern face, father, /
caunot tell a lie-it was Mr.. Robson.
"'Uuhappy child cried the now thor
Oughly inturiated father, why this futile
tergiversation? You say that Mr.. Rob.
son cut this cherry tree, yet he went down
to Boston last nightv
NAY, chide me not, father remon-
strated tue child ;tnat was why ne WENT I"
The wooden goods imported for spring
suits, TO be worn as soon as winter wrap
pings are laid aside, are cameIs' hair, tat.
feta cloths, cheyiOts, chuddah cloths,
which initiate the chGddah centre of VAL
ley Cashmere shawls, and ''lsdies'
clOthS.o